Justice in Plato's Republic

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

· To engage with the questions: ‘What is justice?’ and ‘What is the just life?’

· Become familiar with the structure and content of The Republic and its place in Plato’s corpus

· Identify, articulate and discuss the central philosophical questions raised by Plato

· Carefully read central passages of the work

· Appreciate various interpretations and the reception of Plato in later thinkers

· The final exam consists in an exercise of synthesis – using the Platonic framework of analysis in Republic, students will offer an analysis and critique of the varied manifestations of (in)justice in societies today.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

· No prior knowledge is required

· This course will prove of interest to anyone interested in learning about The Republic by Plato, a towering figure and a milestone work of Western thought

· You are strongly encourage to read the material before the classes to ensure you fully engage with the material

Syllabus

Syllabus: The Republic by Plato

Week 1 Introduction to the Works of Plato and the Problem of Justice

Week 2 Book I: What is Justice?

Week 3 Book II: Justice, Punishment and Happiness (1)

Week 4 Book II: Justice, Punishment and Happiness (2)

Week 5 Book III: Socrates on Education

Week 6 Book IV: Justice and Society

Week 7 Book IV: Virtue and the Tripartite Soul

Week 8 Book V: The Philosopher King

Week 9 Book VI: The Ideal City as the Ship of State

Week 10 Book VII: Allegory of the Cave & the Universals

Week 11 Book VIII: The Unjust Rule: Timocracy, Oligarchy, Democracy and Tyranny

Week 12 Book IX: Society as the Mirror of the Soul and the Genesis of Corruption

Week 13 Book X: The Threat of Poets

Week 14 Reception of Republic (I)

Week 15 Reception of Republic (II)

Week 16 Final Exam: (In)justice in Today’s Society’s – What would Plato say?

Reading list

1. Plato, Giovanni RF Ferrari, Tom Griffith, and Plato. The republic. Naxos, 2001.

2. Ferrari, Giovanni RF, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Plato's Republic. Cambridge University Press, 2007.

3. Rosen, Stanley. Plato's Republic: A Study. Yale University Press, 2008.